Shiva Nata: the Dance of ShivaAnnouncement! The teleclass! (NEW DATE)
The DUST OFF THE DVD teleclass.
Twice a year I teach a class (by phone) where we talk about Shiva Nata wackiness and I answer questions. This has been going on for a few years now and it’s usually pretty fun.
We talk about ways to get back into a practice when it’s stuckified, ways for it to support you, and anything else you’d like to know/understand/untangle in relation to the madness that is Dance of Shiva.
This class is free to everyone who owns the Starter Kit and you can totally take it as many times as you like.
What kinds of questions?
Oh, let’s see. Theory, practice, random stuff you wonder about. It’s all good.
Surprise me. :)
Boring questions are welcome. Wacky and bizarre questions are welcome. It really doesn’t matter. My duck and I will do our best to help you out.
Details?
Here is the important part. We have CHANGED THE DATE of our upcoming class. So put this in your calendar!
It’s going to be:
TUESDAY FEBRUARY 16 , 2010 at 12:00 PM Pacific
And *not* next week as previously announced.
You can use the time zone converter to figure out what time noon Pacific is for you.
Expect to take notes, because scribbling happens.
And, as always, you don’t have to participate if you don’t want to. If you’re more comfortable listening in than talking, that’s fine.
You can also make sure your Dance of Shiva questions get answered by leaving them here.
Leave your questions here in the comments and I can see to it that we cover them in class.
Shivanautical communal learning! It makes me the happy.
And if you aren’t already signed up, you can sign up here. If you can’t make the class, we’ll still send you the recording as long as you’ve signed up.
Awesome. Maybe we’ll get to talk to you then.
*blowing kisses*
Havi & Selma
Twitter: jenialaszlo
My questions: where and by whom are live Shiva Nata events being taught at the moment? (Because I’d love to attend one, teleclass are something to look forward to, but it’s not the same as a live event). And maybe you could tell us a bit more about how you fell into Shiva Nata and teaching it?
Twitter: pearlmattenson
Also would love to hear more about doing shiva nata to music. Haven’t ventured into that territory and I don’t think I know it well enough to do without watching the DVD.
And does it matter if when you try to challenge yourself you get it all wrong? (I mean I know wrong is right) but it really isn’t teaching yourself bad habits?
And should there be times when you practice to get it right and times when you totally flail?
And finally (I probably could go on an on…) should I be thinking in my post shiva sitting or focusing on breathing and NOT thinking?
Looking forward to this!
Twitter: elizabethhalt
I tend to wonder if there’s a second CD. I know .. totally not there yet .. and may not be for forever .. but I like to think that I will eventually. I only saw this one on the Pranayama site, but I imagine there is another CD with more of Level 3 and beyond?
elizabeth´s last blog ..noticing the contrast
Twitter: lizemmettmattox
I may think of a million more questions, but here’s the one I have right now: when do you move to the next level? And by next level, I mean next segment of the current level?
Looking forward to the teleclass!
Twitter: MariskasDesigns
Will this be recorded and downloadable?
Thanks
Yay! Pancakes and shiva nata!
And now I can attend the no-brainer call too.
(Can I still be a Beloved Lurker if I speak out every now and then?)
Twitter: neonpaul
Hello Havi,
Not sure if I can make the live teleclass but either way I would like to know how well the dance of shiva works as a multiplayer game?
As in, one of the things that would possibly motivate me to do it more often would be if some of my friends did it with me, but I imagine this might cause some trouble with people at different levels to each other… or is my grasp of this all wrong?
Paul´s last blog ..Book Review: Sophie’s World
Twitter: toacircus
Can I do it a lot longer than 10 minutes (I did it for 45 once, I usually do it for 25)? I am not athletic and I have no rhythm yet most of the time I think its fun – is there something wrong with me?
ML´s last blog ..Been Too Busy Epiphanizing to Post!
Twitter: williehewes
Ha ha, I think it’s fun, too! My arms can’t handle much more than 15 minute stretches though.
I wonder if it’s OK to make up your own patterns to help you learn. I was having a lot of difficulty with level 3, so for a while I just did the “both arms forward” and “transquarter” bits of it, and left out the middle. I worry that Mr Lappa would take a dim view of this though. :o Am I cheating?
I also second Pearl’s question about bad habits. I make the same mistakes over and over. And over.
And, this isn’t really a question, but, am I the only one who practices to a metronome? It’s really helped me get past the “standing with your arms in the air trying to work out the next move for about 3 minutes” stage. And you can up the speed gradually.
Willie Hewes´s last blog ..Love Letter to my Back Pain
Twitter: pdxlilly
Hello,
Is there a right order to do these movements in? Conversely, is there a wrong order?
Wonder about how important the transition from one arm or leg position to the next is?
What average length of time should I work towards, to get the most out of this practice?
Thank you..
Lilly
Twitter: darxyanne
Disclaimer: My question feels too specific to be answerable in class, but my question also will not rest until I ask it, so I have to try.
Background: the horizontal positions, esp. on slow speed, cause me to have bad flashbacks.*
Question: The handouts say that 10-15 minutes is fine and 5-10 min is plenty. I can sometimes barely manage to do it for 2-3 minutes. Is *that* enough? (I apologize if you’ve already said somewhere that even 2-3 minutes is enough.)
Real questions: What is the lowest amount of time you can do and have it be worth doing? What do you do if doing it freaks you out for reasons that that are totally unrelated?
I also can’t figure out the horizontal and verticals combined. It seems like the last position before you switch from one to the other is kind of getting skipped. What’s up with that?
And I’d love to know the answers to Pearl’s questions, too.
*I wrote about why, and you don’t really need to know, but for reference and thoroughness, it’s here: http://bit.ly/6vsOa9 (start at the 4th paragraph) just in case more detail is useful.
@Pearl–it’s like you read my mind.
@Havi–yeah, what Pearl said! I am wondering especially about accidentally developing bad habits because I keep on doing it wrong in the interest of doing it right.
And I’m also curious about what to think or not think about (or if it even matters?) when I’m sitting still afterward.
I guess I’m just a newbie looking for some reassurance. Thanks so much for this class Havi!
Agnes Northstar´s last blog ..Strategery
Twitter: amysnotdeadyet
I have trouble sometimes with the positions putting to much of a strain on my shoulders (I have joint issues). Is there some alternative between “not doing it ‘cos it hurts” and “doing it right/wrong/whatever until it hurts”? I dunno, I’m asking this wrong, I just like the brain zing that it brings (and the sense that I’m actually exercising my arms/shoulders, even a little), but I do not like the grinding ouchy joint pain (of Doom). So, um, help?
Twitter: janetbailey
What Amy said, only it’s my neck, not my shoulder. Vigorously waving hands around higher than waist makes my neck hurt for days (as I found out the hard way at live workshop a while back) — bodywork guy advises against DoS because of that. Soooo…
Any point to doing Dance of Shiva with legs only? Or, legs and one arm? Or, arms moving only very gently, waist-high or below? Missin’ those ephiphanies…
I have a couple of questions!
1. Is it OK to listen in on the call even if your DVD is pretty dust-free, i.e. if you’re relatively new to Shiva Nata?
2. I’m a little confused about having an intention. I try to focus on an intention during my little ritual before starting, and I really like the idea of having an intention. But then when I’m practicing, my mind is so totally focused on what position comes next that my intention flies right out the window. If I try to think about it, I get mixed up and lose my concentration. Even while meditating later, I usually think of other things, and unrelated epiphanies might come up. So it seems like the intention gets lost.
Is there a way to give more attention to intention, so that we can “do some Dance of Shiva on X issue”? Or is it best to just be patient, because insights are bound to come later?
Thanks!
Twitter: brianaaldrich
Ohhh, everyone else is already asking such great questions.
I second @Sarah’s question around intentions and @ML’s question around length of time – interested in your overall insight and guidance around length of practice.
And also @Elizabeth’s question about a second DVD… I’m fumbling through level 4 and the idea of a DVD to follow is truly tantalizing.
Okay, and one more… Do you think there’s room or possibility for teaching (maybe someday eventually) if I’m not already anywhere near the general realm of teaching yoga?
And @Willie – the metronome is a genius idea, especially for my level 4 stuckness!
Briana´s last blog ..It’s like talking to a wall.
Twitter: chrisdivalish
I think it’s fun, too.
How do you know when it’s appropriate to move to the next level?
I’m working on horizontal arms (slow speed) and sometimes I know which movement comes next in the sequence. And sometimes I know that for 2 sequences in a row. When that happens I start to wonder, am I flailing enough? So then I try to do vertical arms, then all arms, then sometimes experiment with fast speed which doesn’t resemble following along with Andre at all. Should I be completely unable to follow Andre and move up the moment it feels like I’m starting to be able to follow along?
Is an eventual goal to have the sequences memorized so you can do it without the DVD?
I think so but it seems that memorizing the sequences would involve some amount of doing it right which, of course, is doing it wrong. And besides, sometimes Andre is boring and I want to do it on a trampoline to the Clash.)
Twitter: williehewes
I’m listening to the other teleclasses that came in the kit and realised you already answered my questions. Ha ha! You even answered the one I was thinking of asking next, which was: what’s level 4.
So, you can skip my earlier questions if you want. Or go over it again, ’cause I love to hear you talk. ^_^
Willie Hewes´s last blog ..Mascots for Life
Twitter: simonebernhard
Q?s: Are the squares really square? How come horizontal feels like vertical to me? Vertical doesn’t even seem like a square as much as some weird polyhedron with a giant rubber band hanging from it.
Are the squares just a tool for teaching the sequence of movement? If they are really squares then what plane are they on in reference to the body?
I can handle spirals and point to point patterns/math but the squares and cubes and planes are fuddling me.
YES I FLUNKED ALGEBRA but only because madrigals met at the same time. I think I might have done okay in geometry, but math in general is a sticky thing to me. Musicians count but only in twos and threes!
Ahem…
If this info is somewhere on the DVD or on someone’s brilliant blog please let me know!
Thanks all, love and hearts to you!
Twitter: simonebernhard
Should have added but you can probably guess that I am a newly hatched fluffy baby Shivanaut, still wet behind the ears (elbows?) Apologies if these Q?s are Stoopid.
chicsinger simone´s last blog ..royal eagle valentine bonbon brooch
Havi, do you have any thoughts on the suitability of Shiva Nata for children?
Dear Havi,
is there a chance to get a Shiva Nata workshop in either Berlin or Hamburg (even better) this year?
How can I find people in Germany practicing and/or teaching it?
Eine dicke Sommer-Umarmung für Dich!
Jana
Twitter: ClaireTompkins
Havi,
I have a basic, easy question! On the DVD, when he’s doing vertical position two, it looks like Andrey’s wrists are bent. But he explained earlier that the arm should be straight from elbow to fingertips. Hmmm, do I do what he says or what he does? Or does it not matter? I’m too new to figure that out yet.
Thanks!
Twitter: havi
Hallo Jana!
Sadly, I won’t be in Berlin or Hamburg this year, but there are many wonderful people teaching in Berlin, including some of my students.
I can recommend Lars Bödeker and Andreas Suhr or Jackie Tauil. They are all marvelous teachers.
Lars: 030-324 69 82 or lars -AT – shiva-nata.de
Jackie: +49 (0)176 25584034 or jackietauil /AT/ googlemail /DOT/ com
Good luck and I hope you find some wonderful people to practice with …
Liebe Gruesse!
I just wanna know what the duck really thinks about all this :)
ANy teachers in London Havi or nearby?
Leila xxx
Leila´s last blog ..Transitions- bridges- dancing- goofology
Twitter: RebeccaMichaels
Hi – This all sounds really cool and I have a quick question about the DVD format. I live between Rome Italy and California USA, so the format requirements change between the two countries and it’s much easier if I have a digital version (ie something I can upload to my iTunes or whatever – it’s gonna be played on my computer…)
Do you have a digital format of the DVD so I can actually use it on my laptop rather than a DVD player, to avoid the international format changes?
Thanks in advance,
Rebecca
I’m still on slow speed. And I just watch and follow. I am not thinking about it all, the words mean nothing to me … forward, reverse 4-2,double 3… I understand all those things conceptually when I’m reading about it, but when the dvd’s on, I’m pure just doing what he does, as much as I can, which amazingly is more and more. So I’m learning something! But I’m wondering if I’m supposed to be trying to use my head in the process.
Am I supposed to be trying to figure it out?
(ps: I triple love this)
Hey Havi,
I know you already had this teleclass, but maybe you’ll still see the question.. :)
I’ve been learning the levels mainly by searching on the web, discovering what the formula was and then practicing. Of course I can’t be sure it’s 100% correct. But do you think it’s possible to learn like this?
And also. I can’t really do the levels fast. I find myself stopping and thinking what the next step is, and only then moving my arms. This goes on until I do the level a lot and become able to do it fast. So I’m thinking too much to “do it wrong” like you’re supposed to. Maybe it isn’t challenging enough like this?
Thanks in advance,
Nina